Edinburgh College Banner

Performing Arts & Photography

UAL Level 2 Diploma Performing and Production Arts (Acting)

Campus Granton Campus

Qualification SCQF Level 5

Study mode Full time

Duration 41 weeks

Start date Aug 2023

Course enquiry form

Note your interest for this course.
Enter your full name
Enter your email address
This form collects your name and email address so we can contact you with pre-application information on future courses including application deadlines, campus open days and course information. Read our privacy notice to find out how we collect, store and use your data (and for information on withdrawing your consent).

Course overview

New course, formally Foundation Certificate in Acting and Performance (SCQF 5) 

We are excited to share a brand new course at Performing Arts Studio Scotland within our Acting Department, we always aim to meet industry standards and offer high-quality training in acting, performance and production.  Our Level 2 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts (Acting) is an internationally recognised qualification accredited by the University of The Arts London and taught at Edinburgh College, Graton Campus.

This 1-year full-time course is designed to introduce you to acting and performance by building skills in acting, voice,  movement, theatre, performance and production.  With state-of-the-art facilities including movement and rehearsal studios, Aerial space and our very own in-house Theatre and Fringe Venue, we offer the very best to start your creative journey.

You will be exposed to industry specialists, Q&A's, Theatre Visits accross Edinburgh's Capital and encouraged to work collaboratively accross the Acting and further PASS Department

For more information please follow us on:

Instagram:  @passedcoll

Facebook:  @PASS - Acting, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre & Costume for Stage

What you will learn

A highly practical course designed to introduce you to fundamnetal techniques and methods to support your progress and development in Acting through project-based working. Please see an overview of your units below.

  • Producing and Performing to an Audience
  • Personal Project and Presentation
  • Communicating with and Audience
  • Introduction to Performance
  • Staging a Performance
  • Contextual Research for Performance and Production
  • Performance Skills and Practice
  • Production Skills and Practice
  • Introduction to Production

Placement information

No assessed placement but students have participated in Cultural Exchange Trips with Edinburgh Festival Carnival to South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica and Cuba where they have worked with arts organisations in a variety of contexts. 

How the course is assessed

  • Recorded class discussions and presentations
  • Rehearsal and Live performances 
  • Production process evidence - Research
  • Digital and or written portfolio 
  • Evaluation

Number of days per week

  • 3 days per week plus self-directed study outside assigned College hours
  • Please note during rehearsals you may be asked to attend additional hours but will be notified in advance of timetabled changes.
UAL Banner

Entry requirements

  • A strong  personal statement with a desire to make a career in performing arts 
  • You must be committed to participating in a full-time course
  • Entry will be based on a practical audition where we look for potential, commitment, energy and focus 

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Audition and Interview Breakdown

Audition Dates:

  • 6th & 27th March
  • 24th April
  • 29th May

To successfully gain a place on our course, all candidates must take part in an audition at Granton Campus. The audition process will likely last between two and three hours and contain four sections: 

  •  A tour of our facilities with current HND students
  •  An induction session
  •  A workshop with fellow auditionees
  •  An audition monologue performance followed by an interview

The piece you perform should be one short monologue from a published play. This should be no longer than 2 minutes in duration. We recommend you choose a contemporary piece and character who is about your age, please do not perform any classical pieces, including Shakespeare.

Please also avoid pieces that you have done in Higher/National 5 Drama or English or any of the plays listed below as these pieces tend to be very popular at auditions:

  • The Letterbox or Tally’s Blood by Ann Marie de Mambro
  • The Steamie by Tony Roper
  • Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart
  • Passing Places by Stephen Greenhorn

Immediately after the performance of your monologue, you will have a short interview where we will ask you about your reasons for wanting to train to become an actor and about the kind of theatre that interests you.

If you have difficulty finding suitable monologues ask your English or Drama teacher for suggestions. If you are looking to buy plays the Traverse Theatre offers an extensive back catalogue of their productions for sale at their box office at very reasonable prices. Good quality monologue/audition books are also available online and in most of the larger bookshops in town. Please note that we expect you to have read the play from which your audition piece originated

English Proficiency Requirements IELTS 5.5 

Progression and Articulation Routes

Progression routes at PASS onto

  • UAL Level 3 Performing and Production Arts (Acting)
  • HND Acting and Performance 
  • HND Musical Theatre 
  • HND Dance Artist
  • HND Technical Theatre

Career options

Audition for further training and or work in the industry as an actor, performer or within production on Stage, TV and Film.

Study Options

Campus Study mode Start date Duration
Granton Campus Full time 28/08/23 41 Weeks

You may also be interested in these courses

Performing Arts & Photography

Digital Photography: Shoot Edit Print

Digital Photography: Shoot Edit Print is an evening class taught at Edinburgh College’s Sighthill campus over 12 weeks.T...

Read more and apply

Campus
Sighthill Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 6

Study mode
Evening

Duration
12 weeks

Performing Arts & Photography

Lightroom Classic: Digital Workflow

Lightroom Classic:  Digital Workflow is an evening class taught at Edinburgh College’s Sighthill campus over 12 weeks.Yo...

Read more and apply

Campus
Sighthill Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 4

Study mode
Evening

Duration
14 weeks

Performing Arts & Photography

Make up Skills evening course (NPA)

This course will provide candidates with skills in the key aspects of make-up, focusing on specific make-up styles.This ...

Read more and apply

Campus
Granton Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 5

Study mode
Evening

Duration
20 weeks

Performing Arts & Photography

Performing & Production Arts Professional Development

This is a free opportunity designed for teachers and facilitators of theatre, drama, and dance to enhance their skills i...

Read more and apply

Campus
OL - Open Learning/Cross Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 6

Study mode
Part time

Duration
33 weeks

Performing Arts & Photography

Studio Photography

This course will introduce you to the basic skills and knowledge required to get started in Studio Photography. You’ll b...

Read more and apply

Campus
Sighthill Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 3

Study mode
Evening

Duration
14 weeks

Performing Arts & Photography

Creative Portrait Photography

Take your portrait photography to the next level with this creative and exciting course. You will be introduced to studi...

Read more and apply

Campus
Sighthill Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 6

Study mode
Evening

Performing Arts & Photography

Acting and Performance HND

Acting and Performance HND is a two-year course designed to support you to realise and achieving your performance potent...

Read more and apply

Campus
Granton Campus

Qualification
SCQF Level 8

Study mode
Full time

Duration
41 weeks